Speaks truth about helicopters....wow.
GJ.
Speaks a truth about helicopters…
How about we start with cost. The Air Force, driven in part by the Navy, spec’d “the best helicopter in the world.” GOFOs were even saying it was until a couple of years ago. Even when Chrétien said “not the Cadillac “ we didn’t really change the systems spec. They then tried to buy that Cadillac on a Pinto budget. Now they’re trying to say the cost is too high. And for “reasons” they still aren’t paying the full amount to support those systems, but expecting the full engineering services.
Secondly, blame. There’s plenty to go around, and I’d put PMO at the top of the list. But Sik, GD, Adm(Mat) as a whole, PW, the Air Force, and the Navy all share some, and yes, even 12 Wing. The lack of interest in air ops at the operational and strategic level by the Navy historically has been laughable.
That same lack of interest in how air ops are actually done doesn’t bode well for any nascent aspirations to recreate their own “Fleet Air Arm.”
One of the things that he has been harping on about is Link-11. The current situation was predicted by some who were trying to develop Link knowledge in the MH community (and didn’t want to get it from LRP who were historically fubar’d wrt Link), and they were firmly told to shut up by PMO wholly supported by 12 Wing (yes, I could give names).
My take is that he has been politely asked to make his opinion known in an attempt to get Sikorsky to blink, because if they walk away it will remove the cost and embarrassment from DND.
There is a way out of this… spend the money you would need to spend in order to support “the best Maritime Helicopter in the world.” Don’t see it happening.
